On the first day of this week’s legislative session, Eskamani filed a package of bills to address property insurance, housing security and public safety in Florida. Republican leaders in Tallahassee refused to hear any of them. But Eskamani says she’s not done fighting.
Tallahassee, Fla. – As the Florida Legislature gaveled open a four-day special session on Monday, Representative Anna V. Eskamani called on lawmakers to use this opportunity to immediately address some of the most pressing problems facing working people in Florida right now.
On the very first day of the special session, Eskamani filed a comprehensive package of bills for lawmakers to consider offering policy solutions in property insurance, housing security and public safety.
Republican leaders in the Florida House of Representatives refused to hear any of them – insisting instead that this special session stay limited mostly to largely symbolic issues that they hope might help Gov. Ron DeSantis’ failing presidential campaign.
But Eskamani vowed that she will not stop fighting to solve real problems during this week’s session, which is expected to run through Thursday.
“Floridians across the state are demanding action on issues that impact their daily lives, like the rising rate of property insurance and the cost of rent. So many of our constituents are facing an economic crisis. And we, as their representatives, owe it to them to take that seriously and use every opportunity we have to deliver relief – instead of grandstanding on the taxpayer’s time in support of our governor’s national laughingstock of a presidential campaign,” Eskamani said.
“Though I am disappointed that our request to expand the Special Session to address these challenges was rejected, we won’t stop fighting for the needs of our communities,” Eskamani added. “Not this week. And not ever.”
The package of legislation Eskamani proposed Monday included five bills in all. They are:
- HB21C: Dubbed the “Keep Floridians Housed Act,” this sweeping legislation would strengthen an assortment of protections for renters in Florida.
- HB19C: Inspired by Hurricane Idalia and other storms that have slammed the state recent years, this legislation would prohibit the eviction of a tenant during an active hurricane watch or actual hurricane.
- HB25C: Following several horrific hate crimes in Florida and around the country, this legislation would mandate the reporting of hate crimes, and expand the definition of hate crimes to include gender and gender identity.
- HB29C: Amid reports of insurance companies using accounting gimmicks to siphon profits out of Florida rather than paying claims, this legislation would force insurance companies to reveal more details of their finances to state regulators. This bipartisan idea was proposed last session, but Republican leadership refused to pass it. Read more here.
- HB27C: Floridians across the state are struggling to pay their property insurance premiums. So this legislation would create an new, emergency grant program to help people pay their insurance bills. Floridians could qualify for grant worth $2,500 – or however much their premium was increased since Ron DeSantis was elected governor. Which is ever greater.
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